HP - Chapter 31

Thank you Elaina for the Kofi!

Kingdom of Gods 09

"Ji Zhou, take a look at this."

In a dimly lit basement, a girl with twin tails and several of her teammates opened a metal door and strode in.

Ji Zhou was sleeping on the sofa when something was suddenly thrown at him.

He raised his hand to remove the object and found it was a holographic panel. "If you're going to hit someone, don't aim for the face! If my handsome looks were ruined, could you even afford to compensate me?"

"Wouldn't that be great? We could set up a 'beautiful, strong, tragic, and sickly' persona for you. Your boss would definitely pity you then."

Xiao Huan said expressionlessly before getting back to the main topic. "Today was our first patrol outside as reserves for the Judgement Eye, and we saw this stuff all over the streets."

Ji Zhou had already opened the holographic panel, and a news message popped up.

"Divine Dew: Pantheon Discovers New Area"

Beneath the headline, it described how the Pantheon was exceptionally brave, how they broke through numerous dangers, finally explored a new oasis-like area, and discovered a new resource within it.

This resource is born within pink alien flowers and is very similar to dew, except it's blue, as if containing countless stars within.

What surprised the Pantheon’s reconnaissance team was that this substance could actually make the divine power of Tarot cards grow.

The Pantheon tentatively named it: "Zhaolu" (Morning Dew).

"Upgrade material, makes sense." Ji Zhou laughed. "It's only at times like these that one realizes this isn't a real world, and everyone is still inside the game."

"The Pantheon has monopolized the Zhaolu resource," a young man standing beside Xiao Huan sneered. "When it comes down to it, if the Pantheon wants to hold power, just relying on urban development is still a bit weak... But now, they've discovered a resource, so they can control authority even more righteously."

"Aren't they cooperating with the Judgement Eye?" Ji Zhou asked.

"The scope of cooperation is limited to the urban areas," Xiao Huan said with a curled lip. "A bunch of old foxes who planned this long ago."

"Ji Zhou, what do we do next? The current situation is getting more and more chaotic, and the Judgement Eye is the weakest among the weak," someone said with a worried expression. "The Tarot Path faction is expanding extremely fast. More and more people in the urban areas are having their cards plundered... And those who have their cards taken often choose to plunder in return to save their own lives, which is equivalent to joining the Tarot Path."

Ji Zhou stood up, walked to the inner room, and started changing his clothes while speaking: "You've been with the Judgement Eye for a few days now, how does it feel?"

"They probably genuinely want to clear the game. But their moral sense is relatively low," Xiao Huan shrugged. "Actually, we don't really care. It's your moral sense that's too high; it needs lowering."

"If even you say it's low, then it must be really low."

"...It sounds like you're insulting me."

Ji Zhou changed his clothes and walked out. His friends asked in surprise, "It's raining outside, are you going out?"

"Yeah." A small flame ignited at Ji Zhou's fingertip. He frowned slightly. "My boss changed locations."

"He just changed locations, it's not like he left the urban area. Do you need to be so nervous?"

"Only someone as loyal as me has a chance to win the boss's favor."

As he spoke, Ji Zhou had already pushed open the basement’s metal door and walked out, leaving his friends behind making sounds of disgust.

Walking up the stairs from the basement, Ji Zhou looked down and sent a message to Qiu Heming.

The urban area was overcast, with a drizzle that had been falling since nine in the morning.

It showed no sign of stopping and would likely turn into a heavy downpour.

Zhong Xu walked along the urban corridor, turning into shops to ask if they were hiring.

She needed to find a place to stay before the rain got worse.

She had only worked a few days, and her wages weren’t enough to pay rent, so finding a job that provided food and lodging was the right solution.

But unfortunately, luck didn’t seem to be on her side today. She didn’t find any NPC-run shops; if it was a player’s shop, it was operated by androids.

“Hiring?” Zhong Xu pushed open the door of a steamed bun shop, lowering her standards. “Food and lodging is enough.”

The busy server at the counter looked up angrily. “Hey, don’t disrupt the market!”

“Player?” Zhong Xu was surprised.

She had thought she was the only player in the urban area forced to do miserable labor.

The player-server nodded and, looking worried, asked, “Were you robbed of your card too?”

Ah, so he was a player who had his card taken by the Tarot Path.

The server said resentfully, “It’s a pity… my body… I’ve never fought anyone… What’s the point of studying all that? If I’d known I’d end up like this, I should’ve learned martial arts, Muay Thai, or something in the real world.”

“That way… after my card was taken, I could rob others too.” His voice turned more pained and angry. “I’m not a god anymore, I’m just an ordinary person now. I’m so unwilling…”

“You still haven’t read enough, or maybe your brain is waterlogged. You don’t think about retaliating against the person who took your card, but you want to rob others instead.”

Before the player-server could react, Zhong Xu had already left the steamed bun shop without looking back.

She walked a long distance. The further she went into quiet areas, the more players she saw who had fallen victim to the Tarot Path and had their cards plundered.

In the end, this urban area had become a battleground for three factions.

“Hey, beautiful.”

Someone suddenly called from behind. Zhong Xu turned slightly and saw a middle-aged man smiling warmly at her. “There are a lot of Tarot Path people around here. Shall we walk together? Otherwise, a lone girl like you would be in too much danger!”

Zhong Xu smiled ambiguously. “Aren’t you afraid I might be from the Tarot Path too?”

“Ha, I’m good at reading people. You look like the well-behaved type from school.” The man quickly came up beside her, moving his umbrella over her head. “Let’s go. Where are you headed?”

Zhong Xu glanced down the dark alley ahead and lifted her chin. “Just up ahead, through this alley.”

“No problem. We happen to be going the same way.”

Walking into the quiet alley, the man kept talking, chattering about his family in the real world and his glorious past.

As he spoke, he slowly raised his hand, intending to drape it over Zhong Xu’s shoulders. “Beautiful, why didn’t you ask me earlier if I’m from the Tarot Path…”

Before he could finish, Zhong Xu grabbed his hand and threw him over her shoulder into the rain.

The umbrella flew, and water splashed everywhere.

His eyes widened in terror as he watched her step on him, a smirk curling her lips. “Because your judgment is terrible. I’m the type with the most problems in school.”

Zhong Xu bent down to pick up his card. “I also know your card ability is weak, that’s why you rob others like this. We’re really fated—I’ve been looking for a noob like you for a long time.”

“Please, don’t take mine!” The man tried to get up, but Zhong Xu kicked him back into submission. He wailed, “My card is useless…”

Zhong Xu flipped the card over, and her face stiffened.

“You too…?”

He cried, “What? You’re also the ‘Lovers’ card? My ability is just—”

Before he could finish, Zhong Xu sharply looked at him. “What card did you say you are?”

“Huh? The Lovers card?”

Zhong Xu slowly lowered her gaze to the card.

It was clearly a blank card.

So this path had already been blocked long ago.

It was destined that she couldn’t use cards—no matter what she tried, it simply wouldn’t work.

Is this what the game creator called “despair”?

“Ha… haha.” Zhong Xu sneered, tightening her grip on the card in her hand.

She wasn’t in despair; she just wanted to kill him.

“Old Zheng, how are you still so useless?” A voice suddenly called out from a distance. “You’ve been in the Tarot Path for a month, haven’t stolen a single card, and now even your own card got taken.”

Zhong Xu frowned and looked.

In the deep alley, beneath the curtain of rain, ripples spread.

Suddenly, a shadow streaked past, appearing before her at incredible speed.

The person had red hair, a crew cut—it was You Shaofei.

He actually wasn’t dead.

Ran Ran had been far too kind-hearted and soft.

“It’s you?” After seeing Zhong Xu clearly, You Shaofei’s expression changed. He glanced past her toward the person behind her. “The one you mentioned is her?”

Zhong Xu frowned and turned her head, only to find another familiar face.

It was actually Liang Qing.

He walked over slowly. Even though only a few hours had passed since they last met, Zhong Xu noticed his eyes were increasingly taking on the appearance of insect eyes.

“It’s her.”

Zhong Xu was even more curious. “What happened to your eyes?”

“What?” Liang Qing frowned, touching his own eyes. The look he gave Zhong Xu was strange. But there were more pressing matters now. “Shaofei, stick to the plan: attack from front and back, and take her card.”

You Shaofei shouted, “Then be careful! This woman can make giant bells fall from the sky!”

Zhong Xu: “…”

Liang Qing asked, puzzled, “Isn’t her card a combat type?”

The middle-aged man lying on the ground whimpered, “Boo hoo, could you two brothers help me get my card back too?”

Zhong Xu shrugged. “Fine, I’ll give you the card. No need for all this trouble.”

Facing two cardholders alone, she admitted her skills weren’t strong enough to escape.

Anyway, it was just a blank card.

Whoever wants it can have it.

“Tricks won’t work!”

Unfortunately, the two didn’t believe she would obediently hand over the card.

After all, her rebellious persona was too firmly established.

Rainwater splashed as the two charged at her from front and back, but Zhong Xu decisively revealed the card.

The two abruptly halted.

“You really know when to yield and when to strike…” You Shaofei was momentarily speechless.

Liang Qing snatched the card from Zhong Xu, his eyes wide with shock.

“How is this possible?”

You Shaofei asked, puzzled, “What card is she?”

Zhong Xu curved her lips. “A card that makes divine power disappear. Want to try it?”

You Shaofei’s expression turned fearful, and he stepped back.

“Useless… completely useless.” Liang Qing reacted strongly, giving Zhong Xu a strange, angry glare. “I thought I could pull you into the storm, and we could rule this world together. But you ended up with this card… you’re simply… ha.”

“What nonsense are you talking about?” You Shaofei frowned at Liang Qing.

Liang Qing threw Zhong Xu’s card away and ran off without looking back.

You Shaofei also saw her card clearly, his pupils constricting. “You couldn’t be… a Sinner, could you?”

Sevyn here ~~~

Enjoy!